Crossing the Canada-U.S. border this summer? CBSA shares tips for a smooth trip

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If you’re planning to cross the Canadian border during this summer travel season, the Canada Border Services Agency offers a few key pointers.

It starts with planning ahead, especially for busier holidays, like Canada Day and the July 4 long-weekend.

And, while more travellers suggest they’ll be staying close to home this season, the flow of goods and people across the border continues. In 2024, the CBSA welcomed more than 93.4 million travellers, stopped over 34,400 kilograms of illegal drugs from entering Canadian communities and kept more than 17,200 weapons and 930 firearms off the streets.

Throughout the year, CBSA prepares for long weekends and summer travel, monitoring traveller volumes and prioritizing efficient processing of travellers at land ports of entry and at international airports without compromising safety and security.

Here are a few travel tips to help you plan for your trip:

Driving into Canada? Check border wait times to plan your route. Early mornings are the best time to cross the border to avoid wait times, while Mondays on holiday long-weekends tend to be the busiest.
Consider an alternative port of entry with shorter wait times or less traffic. Check the port of entry’s hours of operation on the official CBSA Directory of Offices and Services.
If you’re using a GPS application (such as Google Maps, Apple Maps or Waze) to direct you to a port of entry, consider checking different navigation options (such as fastest and shortest routes) to determine the preferred route of travel.
Have your travel documents handy. This will speed up processing times at the border.
Be prepared to declare. Declare everything you have with you upon entry into Canada. If arriving by land, you are responsible for everything inside your vehicle.
Goods purchased abroad: If you’re a resident of Canada, personal exemptions allow you to bring goods, including alcohol and tobacco (up to a certain value), back to Canada without paying regular duty and taxes. Make sure you know how much you are bringing back in Canadian dollars and have your receipts readily available for the officer.
Surtaxes on certain U.S. goods. If you’ve purchased goods in the U.S. and are bringing them into Canada, you may have to pay a 25 per cent surtax in addition to regular duties and taxes. For residents of Canada, this surtax applies only to goods exceeding your personal exemptions limit. Consult the lists of products surtaxed: complete lists of goods subject to the surtax. Visit the CBSA website for more details on how these surtaxes apply at the border.
Flying into Canada? Use Advance Declaration and make your customs and immigration declaration up to 72 hours in advance of your arrival into Canada at participating airports.

Travelling with children

For those who are travelling with children, who are not your own or for whom you don’t have full legal custody, CBSA recommends having a consent letter from the parent or legal guardian authorizing you to travel with the child.

“We are always watching for missing children, and in the absence of the letter, officers may ask additional questions,” the Agency notes in a release.

Know before you go:

Before travelling, review the list of restricted and prohibited goods to avoid the possibility of penalties, including fines, seizure or prosecution. Ensure you have the information you need before attempting to bring items into Canada.

In particular, travellers should leave behind firearms, weapons, narcotics and cannabis.

Not sure? Ask a CBSA officer. The best way to save time is to be open and honest with the border services officer. If you are not sure about what to declare, don’t hesitate to ask!

For more information, visit the CBSA website or call 1-800-461-9999.

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